In Anti-Rape Debate, Indian MPs Reveal Sexism

Men watched as a woman protested against outside a local court in New Delhi, Jan. 21.

India’s lower house of Parliament, the Lok Sabha, on Tuesday passed a bill aimed at strengthening sexual assault legislation in the country.

The bill, which needs the approval of the upper house of Parliament to become law, comes as women’s safety has become a policy priority in India following the horrific gang rape and death of a young woman in Delhi in December.

But some Indian lawmakers revealed surprising insensitivity on the delicate issue of sexual violence, with some MPs even giggling in response to remarks most would agree are sexist.

“I’ve never been so demoralized in my entire life,” said Vrinda Grover, a human rights lawyer who followed the debate in the Lok Sabha. “It was a one-sided, biased, male-dominated debate,” she added, “It was shameful.”

“It’s almost a good thing that Lok Sabha TV isn’t on our favorites list usually. Because, if you were to see and hear who runs our country, who takes decisions, who contests them, you would probably feel safer in the Sunderbans than in your own homes,” said one commentator on Firstpost.

Here are just some of the remarks some lawmakers made in the lower house Tuesday.

“I went to college. You’re saying girls shouldn’t be followed,” said Sharad Yadav, a legislator from the state of Bihar. “Who among us has not followed girls? When you want to talk to a woman she won’t at first, you have to put in a lot of effort…It’s the same all over the country.”

Mr. Yadav was explaining why he opposed a clause in the bill that calls for harsh punishments for stalking.

His comments were met with giggles by other lawmakers.

Mr. Yadav also argued Bollywood films and songs encourage men to behave inappropriately – and then added this was “natural” behavior.

“Just look at films today: ‘Sheila Ki Jawaani’ will make your heart jump even if you are an old man. This is natural,” said Mr. Yadav.

For Mulayam Singh Yadav, leader of the Samajwadi Party, the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh state, the parliamentary debate was a chance to vent his views on co-education.

“Today, boys and girls study together. We have to stop that,” said Mr. Yadav.

Lalu Prasad Yadav, head of Rashtriya Janata Dal, a regional party in Bihar, took the debate to a new extreme, attacking some of India’s most prized monuments.

He called on the government to cover up ancient erotic sculptures in Khajuraho and in Konarak – both of which are UNESCO world heritage sites.

“Cover up the depictions of naked people in Khajuraho and Konarak,” said Mr. Yadav, arguing these have “a bad impact on people.”

Sumitra Mahajan, a member of the BJP, criticized Indian reality television for throwing young boys and girls together.

“I have many times seen shows, which are supposed to be for showing talent, and then in the shows which are produced 10, 12, and 14-year-old girls and boys are dancing together…dancing together to all kinds of love songs.”

Bhola Singh, an MP with the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, addressed the common gender bias among Indian families.

“Today I want to place this thought before you that that a daughter is not safe in her mother’s womb, she is not safe in her father’s presence, a daughter is not safe in the court, a daughter is not safe in the assembly, a daughter is not safe at her place of employment, a daughter is not safe in her parents’ home or even when her grandparents are around…in these conditions I support the step that has been taken, I welcome it,” said Mr. Singh.

He then brought up Indira Gandhi and her father Jawaharlal Nehru, both former prime ministers of India: “When Indira ji was born there was no clapping. Pandit Nehru and his family wanted a son, not a daughter. When Indira ji came there was no joy, no clapping and even today when a daughter comes into our homes there is no clapping, people still see it as unlucky.”

“That is not true. My father is a very proud father,” responded Supriya Sule, a politician with the National Congress Party.

– Aditi Malhotra and Preetika Rana contributed to this post.

Corrections and Amplifications: An earlier version of this post incorrectly said Supriya Sule is a member of the ruling-Congress party. She is a senior leader of the National Congress Party, which is part of the Congress-led coalition government.